The AIDS Healthcare Foundation, the world’s largest AIDS organization, in partnership with the AHF Black AIDS Crisis Taskforce, is hosting a free concert and voter registration rally on August 6 at at the historic Fox Theatre in Atlanta to commemorate the 50th of the signing the Voting Rights Act (1965). The event titled, “Vote 2 End HIV: #BlackVotesMatter,” will issue a grassroots call-to-action for Black voters to play an active role in the 2016 elections and call for increased governmental resources directed towards the prevention, care and treatment for HIV/AIDS in Black and Latino communities, ethnic groups statistics show are the most affected by HIV.
There will be performances by Grammy, Golden Globe and Oscar Awards-winning rapper, actor Common; legendary songstress Patti LaBelle and musical composer and artist Thomas Buttenschøn. The keynote address will be delivered by National Action Network founder and president, Rev. Al Sharpton. Special guests include Oxygen’s “Prancing Elites.”
Sponsored by AHF, Reed for Hope Foundation, LoveHealthy.org and AID Atlanta, the “Vote 2 End HIV: #BlackVotesMatter!” concert and rally piggybacks on the successful “AIDS is A Civil Rights Issue,” a national public awareness campaign created by AHF in 2014 in partnership with Rev. Al Sharpton, the National Action Network, local churches, and community groups. It will highlight the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1965, foster dialogue on ending HIV and sexual stigma within black families and encourage community-wide testing and treatment.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Black Americans account for 44 percent of all people with HIV/AIDS in the United States. Yet, only account for 12 percent of the population. Latinos account for 21 percent of all new HIV infections nationwide. Yet, only represent 16 percent of the U.S. population. Atlanta currently ranks No. 3 in the nation for cities with the highest rates of new syphilis and HIV infections. The state of Georgia ranks No. 5 in the United States for new HIV infections.
The free event takes place on Thursday, August 6, 2015 at the FOX Theatre, 660 Peachtree St. NE in Atlanta, GA 30308
